Silent ball cock



March 4, 1952 R. H. HUNTER SILENT BALI; COCK 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed sept. 25, 1945 Fig. 3

4 9 5 Il 2 3 6 7 Q 4., svv Vl/nll Ill IVE' 3|/ m f i M L?. m 33M.. HB 4 9 ff 2 2 a 6 3./ 4f u ,l\ f- 2 2- m MW MB nruenfor iu he/ford [i Hulzier @(ttomeg March 4, 1952 R. H. HUNTER SILENT BALI.. COCK 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1945 W6 a 4N05 6 0 6 2 4 III. a m. a w 6 I I 5 73 5955 5 m2 cuff@ 56 w M ,f l, 6 a4 [if M 78 5 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES; PATENT" OFEI CELA SIIENT BALL cooK.

Rutherford2H. Hunter; vWooster-,l-0hio l Application septemberes, 19m-,serial.N6..618,5o.4'

7 claims. 01. 13m-104 The inventionrelates to. anV improved. ball Icock. onvalvesfortcontrolling the. lovv of water intoa; watencloset;flusntankfor Ililling ythe same, .and this application is a continuation in part of my. copending .application `Serial No. 575,058, -l'ed January 29,5 19.45,.- and `now abandoned.

Prior constructions. have .been .noisy dueto. vibratonlorswaten hammer,.and. have been so. constructed .fthatjthey cause wear-..012 clogging ,ofA the @working `partsaresulting in` faulty. operation. or4 'failure-of`v performance.

Attempts havebeen made. toward overcoming tl'nise` disadvantages..,butcin` .many cases. the. `re.. sultlfhas been i to2 provide. an expensive and come.. plicaltedceonstruction `Which-r is impractical.

Itis an .objectzonthpresent invention to'. provide-sa ws'imple I ballcock ...construction A.-Which islquiet and eiiicientinoperation.`

Anothrfobject isbtoiprovide .a .novel ball. cock? which isv so constructed .as Lto. prevent... substantially anywearonthe. WorkingV parts.

Asfurther object: is .toprovidealnovel ball cockwhich eliminates `vibrationor Water. hammer.

Anotherobject. is to-.provide al novel .ball cock which' isf`f...so.,constructed las :to prevent clogging of.. foreign .fmaterial within .the ball cock, which would interfere with for. prevent.. its K operation..

Itv is. a .still further. object of the present, in-.. vention .to-incorporate 4allor.` the; foregoingplo-` jectives ina Y.compact and inexpensive structure.

, Theseand. [other objects are accomplished `bv theV vpresent improvementa. a .preferred embodiment 0ff..which is shown by Way of example; in` thegaccompanying.drawings, and .hereinafter described and claimed.

, Relierring to'. the "drawings forming part hereof: Figurefl is aplan-vieWof a preferredembodi-f. ment oftheimproved ballcock'orvalve; Y

Figa ,1,s,.ra:.ver.ticali sectional view .offthepimf proved ball vcocker. .valve of Figi.;1 inopen posi.- tion, partsbeing broken away vFig. ..3 aLsimilanviewof the. valve in closed position nIlig..4 is'laacross. sectional viewfasfondine Ila-4,73 Figa `.5 "ist a fragmentary cross-sectional. view` as@ online. 5 5, FgwZ .r

Fig- .6 is. aplanview-of. a modied embodiment oftheinvention;

Figi.. 7 l. is. .a .verticale sectional view thereof in. openposition;...

` FigifgB isfa cross sectional y andi.. V Y i Fig.. 9 @is a fragmentary fwertical-sectional f view` similar to Fig. 7, showinglthevalve inclosedposi` Similar:. numerals.` refer; to; similaraz` par-tsr throughout@ the .gseiteralnviews-tof, sthe; `draWi1lg.;e

, The#improved.-;ball cock; .'.orcvalvegfshcwn finir mnnl-212055 'ii-ncluslve; preferablygincludes.; a .ftubuei lar bodyfindicated'at 6 and provided "vvithex'4 ternal threads 'l on its lower end for extending through "thebottom of a iiushV tank and making connection with' awater supply pipe in a usual` manner, there being a suitable gasket and clamp-m ing `means provided for sealing the openingv thiougHth bottom ofthe tank 'around the tubu i lar body 6." Suchconstruction isiwellknownandf provides asupport for th ball cock"in`-a-.flu`sh" tank.

The 'upper portion "of the tubular'bodyj" is provided withfan enlarged cup`shaped portion 8;".7 andthe bottom end `9 of a pilot valve vhousing y I0' is'screwed into' said portion 8 to forma pressureV `chamber II;` A diaphragm valve` I2 fof" rubber or.oth`er flexible' material 'is located be-4 tweenthe .pressure chamber II and 'the.upper end `ofthe bore I3` of Ithe body 6,'1' and `the diafphragm valve I2 has.V a thickened `body portionv I4"depending therefrom and fitting in a socket I5"whichisiormed'iin thelupperipart of the body 6 and'communicates' with'the bore I3.'

An annular preferably conical seat IB` is formed inthe socket I5 around 'the bore I 3," and the bottom of the central body" I4 of the diaphragmv is provided with a Vcomplementary .conical seat' ing surface IT." Preferablyat intervals around the socket I5; the body portion is provided with.; radially extendingdischarge .ports I8 fordischarging water from thebore I3 into the vHush tank when Vthe diaphragm .valve I2,is.in.'1open position.. The outer rim I9 of the diaphragm valv'e I2 lis preferablyY beveled as shown and engagedfby a beveled surface. on the bottom 9 or the housingIIl so as to" securelyholdthe"y dia phragmzvalv'e'IZ in positionwhen the housing I0 is'screwed intothe cup-shaped portion 8 ofthe` body.

The central portion I4 of the diaphragm `valve |3` is'` provided .with a conical aperture 20fex+f tending theretlfnough,4 andhaving its' b larger end uppermost. This aperture permits a small;Y amount of Water to flow through the diaphragm into the. pressure chamber I I, and is made conical "in form'to prevent foreign materialffr'om. becomingclo'gged 1in the aperture. Tliejfle'xi-- bility or yelasticity b of the .diaphragm .Va1v"e`,`in', the areafth'ereofsurrounding `its` centralportiong permits a limited .up and downmovementofthe. central portion `.I4 toward VAand 'aWayfrom."th.l1 conidalse'at I6."

A 'pilotyalve indicated atZI is located inth. housingu `IU and. controls thedischarge ofwater fromltlie pressure .chamber ,I Ir through tnecentralpbore .22...in,. which `thezyalve risl.Y movably mounted, -andfthenceto the ll line pipet23 which@ communicates with the llfline chamberazu fini: theiupper. portion-.fof-thenhousingzl 0.

. The lliline.pipe-23;ccnducts .water toran` overs-1 owffpifpe and: :thence s tozthejtoilet bowlzdm a l-usuaflfi 3 fashion, and the construction and function of the overflow and ll line are well known and are therefore not shown.

The pilot valve 2| is provided with a stem 25 which extends through the ll line chamber 24 and projects upwardly therefrom as shown for making connection with the lever arm 21 which is actuated by the usual float (not shown) attached to the end of rod 28. Preferably the valve stem 25 extends through a slot 29 in the lever 21, and is provided with a cross pin under the lever 21 and a cross pin 3| above the lever 21. The lever 21 is preferably pivoted at its inner end as shown at 32 to a suitable projection 33 on the closure plate 34 which is screwed into the annu.

lar flange 35 on the upper end of the housing IU.

`vThus, when the float rod 28 drops due to the removal of water from the flush tank, it engages thepin 30 to move the pilot valve downwardly to the open position of Fig. 2, and when the water in the flush tank raises the float, the lever 21 engages pin 3| to move the pilot valve to the closed position of Fig. 3.

Preferably, a diaphragm partition 35 is attached tO- the valve stem 25 in the ll line chamber' 24, and its outer rim is clamped by the closure plate 3 4 against a shoulder 31 provided in the annular flange 35, so as to securely hold the outer rim of the diaphragm as the valve stem 25 moves up and down. The diaphragm partition 36 thus prevents any leakage of water passing through the b ore 22 into chamber 24 and thence to the ll line 23, `and enables the valve stem 25 to extend through a large opening 38 in the closure plate 34 without requiring any packing or other sealing means which would frictionally resist movement of the pilot valve.

l The head of the pilot valve 2| is provided on its` upper surface with a beveled seating surface 4in for closing olf the valve port by engaging the annular shoulder 4| around the same, when the valve is moved to closed position as shown in Fig. 3.

' The head 2 I of the pilot valve 2| is cylindrical and is of such diameter as to have a loose sliding fit with the bore 22 of the housing I0. Projecting upwardly from the cylindrical head 2| are a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 42 loosely engaging the bore 22 when the valve is in either open or closed position. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, when the valve is in open position, water flows through the enlarged bore 4,3 around the cylindrical head 2| of the pilot valve 2| and betweenthe ribs 42 into the bore 22 and thence to the fill line chamber 24. In the closed position of the pilot valve as shown in Fig. 3 the head of valve 2| engages the seat 4| and prevents such flow.

v, In the operation of the improved ball cock, assuming that the water in the tank has been discharged so that the float rod 28 has dropped to the position of Fig. 2,.the Weight of the float has forced the pilot valve off its seat 4| to the position shown in Fig. 2, and this allows water to flow from the pressure chamber through the llline 23 and relieves the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm valvev I2. The pressure of the incoming water through the bore |3 will then lift the body portion of the diaphragm to the position of Fig. 2 so that most of the incoming water can escape through the radial ports I Band fill the flush tank. At the same time, a small portion of the incoming water flows through the conical aperture 20 and. around the pilot valve to and through the fill lineV 23, so as to increase the depth of the water seal in the toilet bowl while the tank is filling.

When the water level in the tank rises suiciently to move the float rod upwardly and engage the lever arm 21 with the pin 3|, the valve stem 25 is urged upwardly to move the pilot valve 2| to closed position. As the pilot valve 2| is lifted by the float rod 28 and the cylindrical head 2|' of the valve approaches its entry into the bore 22, the supply to water passages 2| between the ribs 42 is largely closed, s o that the increasing resistance to the flow of water therethrough increases the pressure on the bottom of the pilot Valve 2| and causes the same to snap shut.

This sudden closing of the pilot valve prevents any scouring action on. the valve seat which might be present if the valve closed gradually, and tends to eliminate noise or vibration incident thereto.

As soon as the pilotvalve is snapped shut, the flow of water through the aperture 20 immediately increases the Water pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm valve I2, and due tothe fact that the upper surface is much greater irl` area than the lower surface which is being subjected to the pressure of the incoming water, the total force on the upper side of the diaphragm Valve will quickly increase and move the body portion I2 downwardly against the conical seat" I6 and shut off the flow of the incoming water. The valve then remains in the closed position of' Fig. 3 with both the diaphragm valve I2 and the pilot valve 2| being closed under pressure, until the tank is again discharged, causing the float to-v drop and open the pilot valve.

In the embodiment of the novel ball cock shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the diaphragm valvefis adapted to be located in the upper part of a flush tank Yso as to be above the water level therein. Thus, the cup-shaped housing 8a enclosing the rubber diaphragm valve |2a is supported on a vertical water inlet pipe 45, the upper end of which is screwed into a boss 45 formed on the bottom of the housing 8a, and the lower end of which is connected to a nut 41 on the upper end of a threaded connector 48 which extends through an opening 49 in the bottom wall 50 of the flush tank.

A suitable washer 5I of rubber and the like is interposed between the flange 52 of the nut 41 and the tank wall 50,- and a similar washeru 53 is interposed between the tank wall 50 and a clamping nut 54, so as to form a water tight seal at the tank wall around the connector 48, the lower end of which is connected with a water supply pipe in a usual manner.

In this embodiment of the invention, the diaphragm valve I2a is supported on a metal plate 55 which rests at its outer edge on an annular shoulder 56 formed in the side wall of housing 8a andV spaced above the bottom wall 51 thereof. The central portion of the plate`55 `around the body portion I4a of the diaphragm valve is suplported by four circumferentially spaced coluinns water into `the tank `in 4such manner as to avoid splashing and noise. The `upper end of the pipe `60 is screwed through a boss Bla into the discharge Achamber 59, and provides an adjustable outlet portj'between the upper end of the `pipe iii) and theplate 55, whereby screwing the pipe 60 *up or `dow-nwill adjust the -space between the-upp'er I'end `of "the pipe `andthe plate 55 to obtain tions Vin the same manner as 'the :aperture 20 `in v the embodiment 'of Figs. 1 to 5. The height of the bodyportion vIlla is materially greater than the vertical 'distance from the seat |611 to the plate-55, as clearly shown the drawings, -so

lthat when the rim 19a of the diaphragm valve isclamped-against the plate 55 the `seat 16a forces 'the body portion Ha upwardly, and the tension lof the rubber tends to hold the body portion against the seat |6a. l'Ihe pilot valve housing 10a has the pilot valve 21a therein for controlling the discharge of water from the `"pressure chamber l la to the ll line chamber 24a and thence to the jilll line pipe 23a which Aconducts wate'rfto the overflow pipe `of the ilush tank `in ansual manner. The stem 25a of the pilot valve preferably chas screwed on its upper end a `ring member L63 through which a pin 64 is inserted, andthe pin 64 `'extends through the leverfarm 21a to which is attached the float rod 28a vfor-ming a lost motion connection between `the pilot valve and lever arm. The other 'end of the lever arm 21a is pivoted to a projection 33a Lon the 4pilot valve housing'by means fof Va `pivot pin `32a. Y

When the iloat'rod '28a moves to normal raised position due to the float being supported -at the water level in the llush tank, the pin 64 engages the upper side of the ring 63, to move the pilot f valve 2|a upwardly. As the pilot valve 2|a is 4moved upwardly toward closed position and the cylindrical head 2|a approaches the point of entry into the bore 22a, the supply to water passages between the ribs '42a become substantially f closed so as to set up resista-nce tothe flow `of water between the ribs vand increase" the pressure `on the bottom `of the pilot valve 2 la causing it to vsnap shut, in which position the upper beveled end of the rubber insertionA seats on the conical shoulder Ma. As Ashown in Fig. 9, when the pilot valve has snapped shutA the ring member 63 has moved above the pin 64.

`The stem 25a of the pilot `valve has a rubber Vdiaphragm partition 36a attachedthe'reto irnmedately below the ring mem'berfSS, and .the diaphragm partition is retained in the upper end of the chamber 24a by means of a wire snap retaining ring 65 which may be of polygonal shape as shown, and is seated in a groove 66 in the upper end of the pilot valve housing.

The operation of the embodiment of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, is substantially the same as the embodiment of Figs. 1 to '5 inclusive, the main difference between the two embodiments being in the elevation of the diaphragm valve above the bottom wall of the tank, and the construction of the housing 8a forming the chamber 59 with the depending discharge pipe 60 communi-` cating therewith.

vsition as in Fig'. .9, if the 'water supply in pipe 45 should stop and tend -tocreate "a vacuum inthe 'pipe 45 and in chamber Ha, the vacuum would tend to lift the diaphragm valve off its seat due to lthe lgreater area of vits upper surfaca'and the 'wa'- ter from the tank would "Siphon through pipe i60 past valve seat 16a and into pipe 45. The. tension in 'the diaphragm is fsuflicient to maintain the body Ila onrits seat Ita land overcome' the `lifting `effect of the vacuum until the decreased pressure in chamber Ila causes the pilot valve Zia to move 4downwardly "(untifl lring 63 engages pin 64) 'and admit -air 'into said chamber, `which increases the seating pressure on the valve body. The embodiment -of Figs. 1-5 operates in 'the same manner, but'l `"since the discharge ports `|8 are above the level of the water lin the tank `when filled, the danger-of `siphoning is not normally present.

The relatively large conical Aseating surfaces I6 and Il or Ilia and Ha for .thed'iaphragm valve insure a tight closure without cutting into the diaphragm, 'which insures long wear 4without Areplacement, and the resiliency of fthe diaphragm promotes maximum silence operation.

biased to closed position separating said supply tube and chamber, a float having an arm, vand 'a oat actuated pilot valve controlling the `discharge from said pressure chamber to a lill line chamber and having stem extending through said -ll line chamber,v a .lost motion connection between the `iloat arm :and pilot valve stem.

Asaid diaphragm valve having `a central depend:-

ing body portion, an annular seat in the valve body 'cooperating with-*said body :portionfor closing the supply tube,fymeans on said pilot valve Ifor causing -snap action of the valve during its closing movement and moving the pilot valve stem out of contact with the oat arm, `whereby -a partial vacuum in the pressure chamber will unseat the lpilot valve and relieve said vacuum while said diaphragm valve remains biased 'to closed position, `and a diaphragm partition 'attached to .said pilot valve stem. in said fill line chamber.

2. Valve construction -for flush tanks andthe like including a body having a pressurechamber, -a supply tube communicating with said "pressure chamber, a centrally apertured diaphragm valve biased to closed position separating said supply tube and chamber, a iloat having an arm, and a float actuated pilot valve controlling the discharge from said pressure chamber to a fill line chamber, a, lost motion connection between the float arm and pilot valve, said diaphragm Valve having a central depending body portion.. an annular seat in the valve body cooperating with said body portion for closing the supply tube. and means on said pilot valve for causing snap action of the valve during its closing movement and moving the pilot valve out of contact with chamber, a oat having an arm, a float actuated pilot; valve controlling the discharge from said` pressure chamber to said ll line chamber, a lost motion connection between the oat arm and pilot valve, means on said pilot valve forA `,causing snap action of the valve moving it out of contact with the float arm during its closing movement whereby a partial vacuum in said pressure chamber will unseat said pilot valve while 'said diaphragm valve remains biased to closed position, said valve body having a socket providing communication between said supply passage and pressure chamber, a seating portion on said diaphragm valve for seating in said socket, and said valve body having radial ports extending outwardly from said socket for dis`- charging water from the supply passage into the f tank when the diaphragm is unseated.

4.; Valve construction for flush tanks and the like including a housing, a ilexible diaphragm valveljgforming a pressure chamber and a dis-I charge` chamber within said housing, a supply pipe communicating with said discharge cham-` ber,a-"discharge duct communicating with said discharge chamber, said diaphragm valve having a' depending apertured body portion biased for normally closing oi said supply pipe from the discharge chamber, a oat having an arm, a float actuated pilot valve controlling the discharge from said pressure chamber, a lost motion connection between the float arm and pilot valve, and means on said pilot valve for causing-snap action of the valve during its closing movement .and moving the pilot valve out of contact with the float arm, whereby a partial vacuum in the pressure chamber will unseat the pilot valve whilel v-said diaphragm valve remains biased to closed position.

5. Valve construction for flush tanks and the' like including a valve body having a pressure; chamber, a supply tube communicating with said pressure chamber, a centrally apertured diaphragm valve biased to closed position separating said supply tube and chamber, a float having an arm, and a oat actuated pilot valve controlling the discharge from said pressure chamber to a fill line chamber, a lost motion connection between the oat arm and pilot valve, said diaphragm valve having a central depending body portion, an annular seat in the valve body cooperating with said body portion for closing `the supply tube, said pilot valve having a head, said valve body having a bore for slidably receiving the pilot valve head, circumferentially spaced ribs projecting upwardly from the pilot valve head and slidably tting in said bore causing the pilot valve to close with a snap action and move said valve out of Contact with said float arm, and a beveled seating surface within'said ribs for closing off the vupper end of the bore when the pilot valve is closed. E

6. Valve construction for flush tanks and the like including a housing, a resilient diaphragm valve forming a pressure chamber and a discharge chamber within said housing, a conical valve seat in said discharge chamber, a supply pipe communicating with said discharge chamber through said seat, a depending discharge pipe providing communication between said discharge chamber and the tank, and said diaphragm valve having a depending apertured body portion with a conical seating surface so constructed and arranged as to be normally held under tension in position closing off said supply from said discharge chamber, to prevent Siphoning of the Water in the tank into the supply pipe in case the water supply is shut oi when the tank is full of water.

7. Valve construction for flush tanks and the like including a housing, a resilient diaphragm valve forming a pressure chamber and a discharge chamber within said housing, a conical valve seat in said discharge chamber, a supply pipe communicating with said discharge chamber through said seat, a discharge duct providing communication between said discharge chamber and the tank, and said diaphragm valve having a depending apertured body portion with a conical seating surface so constructed and arranged as to be normally held under tension-in position closing oi said supply from said discharge chamber, to prevent siphoning of the water in the tank into the supply pipe in case thewater supply is shut off when the tank is full of water.

RUTHERFORD H. HUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

